State guide
Missouri
Missouri handles adult guardianship and conservatorship in the probate division of the circuit court under Chapter 475, RSMo. Official Missouri materials use incapacity/disability terminology and expressly define a “least restrictive alternative,” while large-county probate courts publish their own forms and fee tables.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Court that handles adult guardianship
- Adult guardianship and conservatorship petitions are filed in the probate division of the circuit court.
- What it's called
- guardian (person) and conservator (estate/property)
- Official forms and self-help
- Official page →
- Filing fee
- $115.50 in Jackson County for incapacitated person only, and $115.50 for incapacitated-and-disabled person and estate or estate only; fee for service is not included.
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- Missouri statutes define a least restrictive alternative and require consideration of a nominee named in a durable power of attorney before other candidates.
- Law
- Chapter 475, RSMo
Official resources in Missouri
Official Missouri statutes chapter governing guardianship and conservatorship of persons under disability.
Official Jackson County probate forms page with adult guardianship and conservatorship petitions and related probate forms.
Official Jackson County fee page listing probate filing fees for incapacitated and disabled adult cases.
Official St. Louis County probate forms page with an adult guardianship/conservatorship packet and related probate filings.
Key facts for Missouri
- Missouri circuit courts include a probate division.
- Chapter 475 is Missouri’s main guardianship and conservatorship chapter.
- Missouri defines a least restrictive alternative for guardianship orders and guardian powers.
- Before appointing others, the court must consider an eligible person nominated in a durable power of attorney.
- Jackson County publishes a $115.50 filing fee for incapacitated person only and for incapacitated-and-disabled person/estate filings, excluding service.
- St. Louis County publishes an adult guardianship/conservatorship petition packet revised in September 2025.
County court guardianship pages in Missouri
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probate Division, 16th Judicial Circuit of Missouri Jackson | Kansas City | Not published* | Official Jackson County probate division contact used for probate matters; the court also publishes probate forms and filing fees online. |
| Jackson County Probate Forms Jackson | Kansas City | Not published* | Official adult guardianship and conservatorship petition page for Jackson County probate filings. |
| St. Louis County Probate Court St. Louis | Clayton | 314-615-8029 | Official probate court page with filing-fee and forms access for adult and minor guardianship matters. |
| St. Louis County Probate Forms St. Louis | Clayton | 314-615-8029 | Official forms page with the adult guardianship/conservatorship packet and related probate forms. |
| Boone County Probate Division Boone | Columbia | Not published* | Official adult guardianship/conservatorship instructions page that publishes local filing-fee amounts and blank forms. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Check the probate division’s local forms page for the county where you will file; Jackson and St. Louis County each publish their own adult packets.
- Review the local fee schedule and service-cost notes before filing, because Missouri counties publish probate fees and often exclude service fees.
- If the respondent previously signed a durable power of attorney, gather it early because Missouri statutes give priority consideration to that nominee.
Not seeing your court or county?
Not every court publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Missouri's population center, for comparison only):
- Kansas Judicial Center, Kansas · about 190 miles
- Kansas Courts eFiling Support, Kansas · about 226 miles
- Polk County Clerk of Court, Iowa · about 229 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Missouri Revisor - Chapter 475
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Missouri page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.